Plas was born in Donaldsonville,
Louisiana, about sixty miles north of New Orleans. As teens, Plas
and brother Ray formed a band, the Johnson Brothers Combo, that played
in and around New Orleans for a number of years. Plas left New Orleans
in 1951 to go on the road with the Chartes Brown Blues Band. The road,
a stint in the Army and a permanent move to California followed. Plas
attended the Westlake School of Music in Los Angeles for a year and a
half, when his studies were derailed by an overloaded schedule of record
dates. He was brought to the attention of Johnny Otis, who immediately
added him to his blues aggregation. Johnny then introduced Plas to Dave
Cavanaugh, who held an influential A&R position at Capitol Records, where
he soon became a regular session sideman and soloist during Capitol's
halcyon years.

Plas has been one
of the most well-known and sought-after musicians around the California
studio scene. He joined "The Merv Griffin Show" band, led by Mort Lindsey,
in 1970, where he remained for the next fifteen years, joining an all-star
line-up which also included such prominent instrumentalists as Ray Brown,
Herb Ellis, Jake Hanna, Benny Powell, Jack Sheldon, Kai Winding and others.

Plas' recent recordings
include his own albums, "Hot, Blue & Saxy," "Evening Delight" and
"Christmas in Hollywood," and "Keep That Groove Going!"
on Milestone, with Red Holloway. You may also find him around town occasionally
with his own group, at jazz festivals around the world, and in the recording
studios. Plas Johnson combines some of the best elements of jazz and blues
and is admired and emulated by sax players worldwide.